Kick-Ass's Hit Girl, and 9 Other Controversial Cinematic Children Up to No Good

Esther, Orphan

Played By: Isabelle Fuhrman

Age: 9...or so it initially appears

Sociopathic Tendencies: After Joshua, children were apparently lining up to drive Vera Farmiga crazy. Esther does a number on her by trying to kill off and/or seduce various family members after Kate (Farmiga) and John (Peter Sarsgaard) adopt her from the orphanage.

Success Level: 9. Esther has the wackiest backstory out of anyone on this list (she's really an adult posing as a child!) and she's got a long history of murders and seductions tucked under her neck ribbon. If the movie had let her get away with it -- and she did, in an alternate ending -- she would have easily nabbed a full 10 rating.

The Midwitch children, Village of the Damned

Age: 3

Sociopathic Tendencies: Conceived immaculately during a mass unconsciousness that befalls the village of Midwitch, the blond spawn grow quickly and use their mental powers to torture and kill adults.

Success Level: 4. They're taken down fairly easily, but that look has to merit style points.

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Regan MacNeil, The Exorcist

Played By: Linda Blair

Age: 12

Sociopathic Tendencies: Before Hit Girl sparked tsk-tsks by dropping the c-word, the demon-possessed Regan was yelling profanities, spitting soup, and bloodily masturbating with a crucifix.

Success Level: 10. Almost 40 years later, this is still the frighteningly inappropriate high bar that no child actor will likely top.

Damien Thorn, The Omen

Played By: Harvey Stephens

Age: 5

Sociopathic Tendencies: Nannies, priests, unborn babies -- anyone is game for Damien to take out. He's the son of the Devil, after all.

Success Level: 8. Gets away with a lot, including the spawn of an entire film franchise.

Anthony Fremont, The Twilight Zone

Played By: Billy Mumy

Age: 6

Sociopathic Tendencies: Though he only appeared in one episode of television, Anthony Fremont casts a long shadow over his cinematic brethren. His monstrous powers allow him to keep all the adults in town prisoner, wishing dissidents "into the cornfield" or turning them into ghastly jack-in-the-boxes.

Success Level: 10. Like I'd dare give him any other score?

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